African Pilot Weekly Magazine 31:2026
Training and Skills Development
Flight Training in South Africa: What to Verify Before You Enrol
Before enrolling at a South African flying school, prospective students should verify the ATO’s approval, understand its instructor structure and know how the current regulatory framework deals with first solo and unusually slow training progress.
Flight Training in South Africa: What to Verify Before You Enrol
Before enrolling at a South African flying school, prospective students should verify the ATO’s approval, understand its instructor structure and know how the current regulatory framework deals with first solo and unusually slow training progress.
Training and Skills Development
Why Pilots Need to Cancel Nominated SAR
Landing at an unmanned aerodrome does not automatically cancel nominated Search and Rescue. Pilots need to understand the SAR entry on their flight plan, which ATSU expects the arrival notification and when that notification is due.
Safety
Finding Current NOTAM Information in South Africa
South African pilots can obtain NOTAM information through several sources, but they do not serve the same purpose. This article explains the roles of File2Fly, AIMU and the SACAA NOTAM Summary in accessing current pre-flight information.
Safety
Airline Rebrand
LAM’s New Aircraft Have Begun Operating Under a New Brand: Air Mozambique
LAM’s first Embraer 190 under its new AirMozambique brand entered service on 14 August, flying from Maputo to Nacala as the airline pursues a wider operational and financial turnaround.
LAM’s New Aircraft Have Begun Operating Under a New Brand: Air Mozambique
LAM’s first Embraer 190 under its new AirMozambique brand entered service on 14 August, flying from Maputo to Nacala as the airline pursues a wider operational and financial turnaround.
Airline Rebrand
Angola’s National Civil Aviation Authority Validates Appointment of Iuri Neto as TAAG Accountable Manager
Angola’s National Civil Aviation Authority has formally accepted the appointment of TAAG Angola Airlines Chief Operating Officer Iuri Neto as the airline’s Accountable Manager, following a review of regulatory documentation and his professional qualifications.
Airline Governance
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Airlink Expands Qatar Airways Codeshare to Add Doha
Airlink will place its code on Qatar Airways-operated flights between South Africa and Doha from 31 August 2026, adding the Qatar capital as the airline’s first long-haul destination under an expanded codeshare agreement.
Codeshare
Kenya, Qatar Agree to Deepen Bilateral Cooperation
Kenya and Qatar have agreed to institutionalise annual Bilateral Political Consultations, discussing trade, investment, labour mobility and aviation cooperation.
Bilateral Aviation Cooperation
Skyward Airlines Launches Nairobi–Garissa Route, Its 13th in 13 Years of Operations
Skyward Airlines has launched scheduled flights between Nairobi and Garissa, its 13th route, providing a new air link to North Eastern Kenya.
Routes & Network Expansion
How Does Puma Energy Manage Aviation Fuel Supply Across Africa?
At AviaDev Africa 2026 in Gaborone, African Pilot Magazine spoke with Ash Makau, Regional Head – Aviation at Puma Energy, and Kevin Kruger, Commercial Manager, about Puma Energy’s aviation operations and its fuel supply network across Africa.
The conversation covers how Puma Energy manages the aviation fuel supply chain, from sourcing and coastal storage infrastructure to inland transport, airport storage and aircraft refuelling across Africa. We also touch on growth opportunities across the continent, including the development of fuel infrastructure at large and smaller airports and Puma Energy’s work with airport authorities to increase storage capacity and develop appropriate infrastructure for locations such as Livingstone and Ndola, as well as their approach to supporting smaller airports.
With recent disruptions placing additional pressure on aviation fuel supply chains, the conversation turns to security of supply, the use of multiple supply routes and the role of storage infrastructure in maintaining fuel availability across African markets.
Pre-Delivery Inspection of Ibom Air’s Third Airbus A220-300
Governor Umo Eno inspected Ibom Air’s third Airbus A220-300 at Airbus’s Mirabel facility in Canada, the second aircraft under the airline’s 2021 order for ten A220s.
Fleet Expansion
The New Playbook for Business Aircraft Financing: What Every Buyer Needs to Know
Four IADA-member finance leaders, from PNC, JSSI, First American Equipment Finance and Global Jet Capital, explain how financing strategy and structure now shape business aircraft transactions.
Aircraft Finance
Continental Aerospace Technologies™ Enhances Standard Engine Overhaul Warranty Through Continental Services
Continental Aerospace Technologies has extended its Continental Services engine overhaul warranty from one year or 300 hours to two years or 450 operating hours.
MRO
Ghana’s New Bolgatanga Airport to Be Completed in 24 Months
President John Dramani Mahama has inspected the site of a new regional airport near Bolgatanga, set to be completed within 24 months as part of a wider push to expand regional aviation in Ghana.
Airport Development
Construction of Msalato International Airport Reaches Final Stages
Tanzania’s Ministry of Works has inspected progress at Msalato International Airport in Dodoma, where construction has reached its final stages.
Airport Construction
Airbus Data Shows 300 Aircraft in African Airline Fleets at End-July 2026
Fleet Data
Airbus’s latest Africa data shows 300 aircraft in service with African operators at end-July 2026, with the outstanding order book concentrated heavily on the A350-900.
South Africa’s ETA System a ‘Quantum Leap Forward’ for Immigration
Airport Security
South Africa has launched its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, combining biometric verification with automated risk analysis to speed up legitimate travel while tackling visa fraud.
Ryanair and Google Cloud Announce Five-Year Data and AI Partnership
Airline AI Partnership
Ryanair and Google Cloud have announced a five-year data and AI partnership, deploying Gemini Enterprise and Google Workspace to 35,000 employees.
SA Transport Minister Calls for More Women in Specialist Aviation Roles
Women in Aviation
South Africa’s Transport Minister, Barbara Creecy, has called for greater representation of women in specialised and technical aviation roles, despite progress in overall licensing numbers.
StandardAero Signs Exclusive, Multi-Year Contract with Tanzania’s Precision Air for PW127M MRO Support
MRO Contract
StandardAero has signed a new multi-year, exclusive contract with Precision Air to provide MRO support for the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127M engines powering the Tanzanian carrier’s ATR turboprop fleet.
Air Tanzania Selects Sabre to Power Future Growth and Accelerate Modern Airline Retailing
Airline Technology
Air Tanzania has selected Sabre to migrate its passenger operations to SabreSonic PSS and adopt Sabre Mosaic NDC IT, building a future-ready retailing foundation.
SAA Board Places Acting CEO on Special Leave, Appoints Mbeki as Replacement
Airline Leadership
SAA’s Board has placed Acting Group CEO Matshela Seshibe on special leave pending an internal process, appointing Chief Legal Officer Koekie Mbeki as Acting Group CEO with immediate effect.
TAAG Cargo Flies Two Lions from Johannesburg to Lagos via Luanda
TAAG Angola Airlines has transported two adult lions from Johannesburg to Lagos via its Luanda hub, using a dedicated Boeing 737-800 Freighter as part of a specialised live-animal cargo operation.
Air Cargo
Africa Finance Corporation Leads Catalytic Infrastructure Investment into Nigeria with Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE USD$2.5 billion Private Placement
Africa Finance Corporation has led strategic investors into Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE’s US$2.5bn private placement.
Refinery Investment
AFRAA Calls for Coordinated Action on Airline Blocked Funds in Africa
Airline Finance
AFRAA is calling for coordinated government and central bank action on blocked airline funds, after finding seven African markets among the ten worst globally at October 2025.
Air Botswana Seeks Auctioneer for ATR 42-500 Disposal
Tenders
Air Botswana has opened an international tender for a specialist auctioneer to handle the disposal of an ATR 42-500 aircraft and associated inventory, with submissions due 27 August 2026.
TCS and Rolls-Royce Achieve Breakthrough in Hydrogen-Powered Aviation
Hydrogen Propulsion
TCS and Rolls-Royce have demonstrated a modern aero gas turbine running on 100% hydrogen through a complete simulated flight cycle, a milestone in hydrogen-powered aviation.
Precision Air Renews Air Operator Certificate, Reaffirming Commitment to Safety and Operational Excellence
Safety & Certification
Precision Air Services Plc has renewed its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority, reaffirming its compliance with aviation safety and operational standards.
Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce Announce Strategic Intent to Partner on India’s Indigenous AMCA Combat Engine
Aircraft Engine Partnership
Reliance Industries and Rolls-Royce have announced strategic intent to partner on developing India’s indigenous combat engine for the AMCA fighter jet programme.
Akwa Ibom Activates High-Speed Internet Backbone at Victor Attah International Airport
Airport Digital Infrastructure
Akwa Ibom State has activated high-speed internet connectivity, powered by MainOne, at Victor Attah International Airport in Uyo.
